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Tanzania
National Parks & Game
Reserves
Gombe Stream N P
Lake Manyara National Park
Mikumi N
P
Mt Kilimanjaro N P
Mahale
Mtns NP
Ngorongoro Crater
Ruaha N P
Saadani NP
Selous G R
Serengeti N P
Tarangire N P
GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK
This park is located
in the north-western part of the country, just 16 kms north of Kigoma. It is
Tanzania's smallest parks, covering an area of 52 sq.kms, but one of the most
popular, famous for its chimpanzees, being one of the few remaining places
where they can be found in their natural habitat.
Due to the park
being heavily forested, large game animal are not found in this area, but the
park is home to a number of different species of monkey including the red
colobus, red-tail and blue monkey, grey duiker, bushbuck and bushpig as well
numerous species of bird including trumpter hornbills, Roos's turaco, crowed
eagle, secretary bird, narrow tailed starling to mention a few.
The
park can only be accessed by boat and a daily entry permit is charged.
Accommodation:
There is a small
hostel in the park where beds and mattresses are provided and all provisions
including cooking equipment should be brought with you. Booking in Kigoma is
recommended.
LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK - click to view recommended Tours &
Safaris
Location: 130KM west of Arusha
Best time to
visit: Dry season (July-October) for large mammals; wet season (November-June)
for bird watching, the waterfalls and canoeing. Size: 325 km² (of which
about 230 km² are the lake)
Sights: Lake Manyara NP is in base of
the Great Rift Valley escarpment and comprises of forest, woodland, grasslands,
and swamps. Wildlife to be spotted Tree climbing Lions, Baboons, Buffalo,
Zebra, Hippos, giraffe; Wildebeest, and over 350 species of bird, storks and
flamingoes.
MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK
Mikumi National Park is
located approximately 300 km west of Dar es Salaam, and is a popular
destination for weekend visitors. The park lies within a flood plain bordered
by the Uluguru Mountain range to the east and the Rubeho Mountains on the west
and covers an area of over 3,200 sq kms.
Wildlife is abundant with
giraffe, zebra, buffalo, hartebeest, wildebeest being amongst the most commonly
sighted game, but elephant, wild dog and tree climbing lions are also found
here along with smaller mammals and reptiles. The park is also home to over 300
different species of birds.
Access to the park is easy, with good road
conditions from Dar es Salaam, and an airstrip near the park headquarters.
Accommodation:-
There is a variety
of accommodation available ranging from budget to luxury and a tented camp with
designated camp sites. Advance bookings are advisable.
Mt. KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK - click to view recommended Kilimanjaro Climbs
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, reaching a height of 5,895
meters, a dormant volcano, with the diameter at its base being 40 miles. There
are two main snow capped peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi. Although it can be climbed
year round the best times of the year for climbing are between August and
October and January and March, from mid March to May it is the wet season.
There are six different routes up the mountain ranging in degree of
difficultly and there are many tours operators running organised trips.
The Park has been a game reserve since 1921 and was designated a National
Park in 1973. The rainforest is home to many species of animals and birds
including, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo.
Accommodation:
Click to view Lodges & Hotels
in the Kilimanjaro area
Climbing Itineraries
Kilimanjaro
climb - Machame Route
The most beautiful, but technical climbing
route. Climbing skills required, is now often booked by many. The climb
crossing the breath rain forest gives you an open view of the glacier when you
reach the Shira Plateau situated in the middle of the moorlands. 6 Days, 5
Nights.
click here to view full itinerary and to
request more info..
Kilimanjaro
Climb - Marangu route
6 Days 5nights
click here to view full itinerary and to
request more info..
Kilimanjaro
Climb - Shira Route
This Western breach route starting from West
Kilimanjaro is for more Technical and experienced climbers and proves very
challenging, with very spectacular diversified view right from the start.
Ascend via Londorossi gate and descend via the Marangu gate.
- 8 Days
click here to view full itinerary and to
request more info..
| The Africa Guide's recommended Map
Guide |
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Kilimanjaro Map &
Guide (Maps Worldwide)
A detailed map and guide to Kilmanjaro
with climbing routes and details of flora, fauna, geology, glaciology,
equipment and useful contacts. One of the most popular maps for those visiting
Kilimanjaro.
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MAHALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Located in the
west of the country, Muhale Mountains National Park is a remote park that can
only be reach by plane or boat. There are no roads and game viewing is safely
carried out on foot.
This is the other of Tanzania's parks where
chimpanzee can still be found in their natural habitat along with elephant,
buffalo, antelope, giraffe, leopard and lion.
The best time of the
year to visit is between May and October.
Accommodation
Camping is allowed in designated
areas and camping equipment is available for hire.
NGORONGORO CRATER - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
The
Conservation area is a fine blend of landscapes, people, wildlife and Africa
main archaeological site, lying in the north of country and merging into the
Serengeti Game Reserve. The Ngorongoro Crater is regarded as a natural wonder
of the world (the 8th) and has been declared a World Heritage Site. It is the
largest intact crater in the world, being 610 meters deep, 16 kms across and
covering an area of 540 sq kms. and is teaming with wildlife, with virtually
all the big game species found here, including, zebra, wildebeest, black rhino,
antelope, elephants, giraffe, buffalo, lion, cheetah, leopard. The area is also
an ornithologists' paradise, with the thousands of flamingos wading in the
shallows of Lake Magadi and hundreds of other species of birdlife.
The
prime time of the year to visit is from December to May when the spectacular
sight of the Serengeti migration usually takes place.
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Visit the famous volcanic Ngorongoro crater which is the largest
unbroken caldera in the world. There are 25,000 larger animals within the
crater including Zebra and wildebeest, lion, , leopard, cheetah, hyena,
elephants, warthog, impala, buffalo, hartebeest, eland and smaller mammals of
sorts.
We have whole selection of itineraries, ranging from sheer
luxury to budget participation camping safaris, offered through different tour
operators.
Click to view our full range of safaris visiting Ngorongoro
Crater |
Accommodation:
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
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built into the rim of a dormant volcano, the plant and ivy –
covered native stone blending masterfully with surroundings. Close to Olduvai
Gorge, the “birth place of man”. Most guest rooms have private
terraces with the views of the crater floor where countless animals make their
home. The lodge has 75 rooms with 66 twin rooms, 8 triples and 1 Suite.
CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK ONLINE
NOW |
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| Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge |
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200 km from Arusha i.e. 4 hour drive, 50 km from Manyara Hotel, a, 2
hour drive and 7 km from the Ngorongoro landing strip. The lodge has 75 rooms,
including one presidential suite and two junior suites. All have a fabulous
view over the crater and are equipped with central heating. 63 twin rooms, 12
double rooms (double bed) - 10 communicating rooms, Bathroom with bathtub. All
rooms are naturally ventilated and are equipped with mosquito nets in front of
all the ventilation vents.
CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK ONLINE
NOW |
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| Ngorongoro Crater Lodge |
situated at the rim of the Ngorongoro
crater, Ngorongoro conservation area. Transfers are available from Arusha
airport. Accommodation: The hotel provides 30 twin bed rooms with en suite
bathrooms. Facilities: Main restaurant offering various cuisines and a well
stocked bar. 3 dinning areas with bar. Lounge library craft and curio shop.
Tree house viewing deck. Game viewing drives into the crater and Ngorongoro
conservation area. Bush walks around the Lodge and excursions to Olduvai Gorge.
CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK ONLINE
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Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
located on Lemala Hill on
the uppermost, eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. The only lodge in which
the crater tour begins within five minutes of leaving the lodge. The lodge can
accommodate 190 guests in 92 suites, each enjoying wall-to-wall carpeting,
central heating, a private lounge with a mini bar, a bedroom with two queen
size beds and ample room for a third, an en-suite bathroom with shaver sockets
and a hair dryer, and a private solarium which offers stunning views either
down into the crater floor below or of the setting sun over the western
horizon. The lodge provides a direct-dial satellite telephone facilities as
well as satellite television and wildlife-video-film options. A complimentary
bottled mineral water is provided in the mini bars while further stocks are
available for sale in the main bar. The guest shops stock a wide selection of
curios, gift items, clothing, film, sweets, postcards, personal requisites and
toiletries. A swimming pool is situated on the very edge of the crater itself
and the water is bracing, even invigorating to say the least, at any time of
year.
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NOW
RUAHA NATIONAL PARK - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
Situated in the centre of the country, the Ruaha National Park, is
Tanzania's second largest park covering an area of over 13,000 sq kms and the
worlds largest elephant sanctuary. Although set in spectacular scenery, with an
abundance of wildlife, the park is one of the lesser visited in the country,
keeping it an isolated, peaceful and unspoilt wilderness.
Amongst the
game found here are Elephant, Buffalo, Giraffe, Cheetah, lion, leopard, a wide
variety of antelope including the Greater and Lesser Kudu and the Roan and
Sable antelopes. There is over 465 recorded species of birdlife in the area.
The best time for game viewing is during the dry season when the
animals congregate along the Ruaha River, from between May and December. During
the raining season, from January to April, many roads are impassable.
Read our featured article from Travel Africa
Magazine
Remote Ruaha
Ruaha may be the second largest national park in Tanzania,
but it is also one of the least visited. This and its abundant wildlife are
amongst the reasons why it is widely regarded to be one of the wildest and best
wilderness reserves in Africa.
Accommodation
Accommodation is available in
an exclusive Tented Camp, various designated camp sites around the park
including at the park headquarters at Masembe and a Lodge
SAADANI NATIONAL PARK
Tanzania's newest national
park, located 130 km North of Dar Salaam and just 38 km from Zanzibar.
The reserve has the unique distinction of being East Africa's only
coastal wildlife sanctuary, providing the opportunity to observe Africa's big
game and bird life interacting with the sea. Saadani has a diverse population
of mammals and birds, although many species are both scarce and scared compared
to other parks which have received better protection in the past.
Of
the big five, lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo are present, the rare
Roosevelt sable is indigenous, whilst plains game such as giraffe, zebra,
wildebeest, eland and hartebeest are more frequently seen in larger
herds.
The southern boundary is marked by the Wami River, which
attracts fabulous bird life, large pods of hippo, massive crocodiles and the
spectacular black and white Colobus monkey. Bottle-nosed dolphins are common
off the Southern coast of the reserve, whales pass through the Zanzibar Channel
in October and November, and there is a green turtle breeding beach at Madete
in the North.
Safaris
The Wami river offers probably the
best boat safari in Tanzania and is a favourite with visitors to Saadani. The
boat often passes flocks of flamingoes at the mouth of the estuary before
entering the river with its abundant wildlife and profusion of bird life.
Explored by foot the reserve is extremely rewarding and highlights how much
game lives in close proximity to the beach. The unique experience of tracking
giraffe through prime bush then emerging onto a pristine beach in a matter of a
few paces is not easily forgotten. Improved road conditions within the reserve
have made the prime game viewing areas more easily accessible and the wildlife
is now becoming used to 4x4 vehicles on the game drives.
Saadani is in
the unique position of providing the opportunity to observe Africa's big game
and bird life interacting with the sea. Foot safaris combining the bush and the
beach, birdwatching by canoe on the Mafue river and game drives are all
available from the lodge and a boat safari on the Wami river can be organised
as part of a full day game drive. The nearby Madete Marine Reserve offers
superb snorkeling and is a green turtle nesting site. ATWV has started its own
turtle hatchery at the lodge to help conserve this endangered
species
Superficially at odds with the reserve, yet aligned to
conservation and the thinking eco-tourist, is Saadani village, one of the
oldest communities on the East African coast and as such right at the heart of
Swahili culture. The fascinating history of the village is evident in the
remains of the old fort and war time cemeteries, whilst silhouetted prawn
fisherman dragging their nets before the coming dawn make an extremely
evocative image.
(text
courtesy of David Barker - A
Tent with a View Safaris)
SELOUS GAME RESERVE - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
The Selous Game Reserve, located approximate 8 hours drive south of
Dar-es-Salaam, is the largest reserve in Africa and one of the largest
protected wildlife areas in the world. It is home to some of the biggest
quantities and variety of animals and birds in Africa. It has the world's
largest number of big game, more than 120,000 elephants, 160,000 buffaloes and
about 2,000 rhinoceros, In addition, the Selous contains Africa's greatest
concentration of hippopotamus, crocodile and wild dog. The Selous is a rare
combination of woodlands, marshes, savannah and open grass plains, crisscrossed
by many rivers, one being the mighty Rufiji River.
The best time to
visit is from June to the end of October. The park can be reach by road, rail
for air, having several airstrips located at the various camps, a flight from
Dar-es-Salaam takes approximately 45 minutes.
Accommodation:
Accommodation is available
in lodges and luxury tented camps located in the parks extreme northern end.
There are no budget facilities for camp sites.
Read our
Feature Article: Selous - Tanzania's Untouched Wilderness
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
Tanzania's oldest park, located in the North, covering an area of over 14,760
sq, the Serengeti is the country's most popular and famous park. "Serengeti" is
a Maasai word meaning "endless plain", very apt, as the park consists of flat,
treeless plains stretching as far as the eye can see, one of the highest
concentration game sites in Africa.
Virtually every game species in
Africa can be found here, but it is most famous for its vast herds of
wilderbeest, zebra and antelope, as well as "the Serengeti Lions"
The
best viewing months are from December to March, when many animals are
concentrated in the park's southern regions.
However, one of the
spectacular and unique events of the year is the Serengeti annual migration,
which takes place heading north to south October November and back south to
north between the months of April and June. This has been described by many as
one of the greatest wonders of the world. There is no fixed migration
timetable, the animals migrate according to rainfall patterns.
Accommodation:
| Seronera Wildlife Lodge |
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located 335 km from Arusha i.e. 7-hour drive, 145 km from Ngorongoro
Crater (3 hour drive), 4 km from the landing strip of Seronera (Scheduled
flights) The lodge has 75 rooms over two levels, including one presidential
suite and two junior suites. 58 twin rooms, 18 double rooms (King-size bed), 18
communicating rooms. All rooms have a view over the Serengeti Park, are
naturally ventilated and fitted with mosquito nets over the air vents and are
equipped with a bathroom and bathtub. Electricity 220 volts.
CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK ONLINE
NOW
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Lobo Wildlife Lodge |
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415 km from Arusha, 3 km from the landing strip of Lobo (Scheduled
flights). All rooms have a view over the Serengeti Park, Swimming pools in the
rocks, Projection of video on the life of wild animals every evening,
traditional son choir once a week, board games, Traditional Maasai singing
organized by hotel staff (on request). A very moving spectacle. The Laguna
lounge
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Grumeti River Camp
A 5* Hotel, located on the
Western Corridor of the Serengeti National park. It has a total of 10 luxury
twin-bedded tents with ensuite bathrooms. Facilities: Central dining room and
bar, Game viewing drives into the Serengeti, excursion to Lake Victoria.
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Klein Camp
located on the North Eastern edge of
Serengeti National Park, NothernTanzania. Accommodation: Provides 8 twin bedded
rooms with en suite bathroom and private terraces. Facilities: Central dining
rooms & bar Game viewing, Elephants, granl’s gazelle, lion, leopard,
wildebeest, drives into the Serengeti, bush walks around the Camp with expert
guides.
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Kirawira Tented Camp
Western Serengeti. 90
Kilometers west of Seronera area of Serengeti National Park near the Grumeti
River. Accommodation: 25-luxury double tents with a classic Victorian
atmosphere. Facilities: Swimming pool, valet service, guided walking &
driving safaris & nature walks, fishing & day sailing excursions to
Lake Victoria, Sumptuous bus luncheons, observing crocodiles from slide
presentation every night by a resident naturalist.
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Serengeti Sopa Lodge
located in the Nyarboro
Hills in the south west of Serengeti National Park. The lodge can accommodate
170 guests in 79 suites, each enjoying wall-to-wall carpeting, a private lounge
with a mini bar, a bedroom with two queen size beds and ample room for a third,
an en-suite bathroom with shaver sockets and a hair dryer, and a private
verandah which offers stunning views over the plains.
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Serengeti Serena Lodge
The famous lodge is located
in Serengeti National Park with panoramic views of the Mbingwe Valley
Accommodation: The lodge has a total of 53 Twin rooms, 12 Triples, and 1 Suite.
Facilities: A restaurant serving local and international cuisine and a well
stocked bar. Wilderness breakfasts and luncheons, sunset cocktails by the pool,
balloon safaris in the evening, traditional dancing and performances by
guitarist. Daily slide presentation by a resident naturalist.
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Serengeti Safari Lodge
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| Recommended book |
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Serengeti : Natural Order on the African
Plain (amazon.com) - USA (amazon.co.uk) - UK
Photographs show each season on the
Serengeti Plain of Eastern Africa and focus on migrations, predators, and the
natural life cycle. A grand visual panorama of life, death, and renewal on the
great Serengeti plain of Africa. 280 color photographs.
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| Recommended Video |
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Africa: The Serengeti VHS &
DVD (amazon.com) - USA (amazon.co.uk) - UK
Excellent documentary about the most
famous East-African National Park. You can get a really good impression of what
you can see on safari in Serengeti and Ngoro Ngoro (believe me, I was there).
Nice shots of large animals and the East-African scenery. A bit short (45
minutes) and not widescreen (pity!) but it has very good image and sound
quality. (A viewer from Prague, Czech Republic )
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TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
Located approximately 110 kms southwest of Arusha, covering an area of
approximately 2,600 sq kms. During the dry season from June to October, this
park has a particularly high concentration of wildlife, mainly congregating
along the Tarangire River.
The park is also an ornithologists
paradise with more than 300 species of birds, including the largest bird in the
world, the ostrich and the heaviest bird that can fly, the Kori Bustard.
The best game viewing months are between September and December but for
bird viewing is is best to come between the months of October and May
Accommodation:
Tarangire Sopa Lodge
on the eastern side of the
Tarangire river, opposite Tarangire Hill. The lodge is 120kms (75 miles) from
Arusha by road and is one of Tanzania's most easily accessible conservation
areas. Can accommodate 160 guests in 75 suites, each enjoying wall-to-wall
carpeting, a private lounge with a mini bar, a bedroom with two queen size beds
and ample room for a third, an en-suite bathroom with shaver sockets and a hair
dryer, and a private verandah which offers stunning views over the baobab
studded lands
CHECK AVAILABILITY / BOOK ONLINE
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Read our featured article from Travel Africa
Magazine:
Tanzania’s Untamed Trio
Geoffrey Dean finds that Tanzania’s safari
giants — the Selous, the Serengeti and Tarangire — complement one
another surprisingly well.
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